Name: Deadly Illusions
Director: Anna Elizabeth James
Released: 2021-03-23T00:56:00

To focus on her writing, Mary’s best friend Elaine (Shanola Hampton) recommends hiring a nanny. Deadly Illusions 2021 sends in Grace (Greer Grammer.) The picture of innocence, riding her bicycle with a bow in her hair, ready to show her Mary’s household that they need her more than she needs them. Mary is charmed immediately, and Grace is hired on the spot.

Writer as Muse: A Troubled Concept

The film initially feels like it’s setting up for a Lifetime movie-style thriller, reminiscent of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. However, it quickly veers into uncomfortable territory with an odd bra-shopping scene that derails any narrative tension. This scene, where Mary joins Grace in a dressing room and takes on tasks better left to the shop assistant, is poorly placed in the film.

Rather than building suspense or intimacy, it feels awkward and overtly explicit. Grace’s age remains ambiguous for far too long, complicating how the viewer interprets this dynamic.

As Mary throws herself into writing, she begins using Grace as her muse. The film’s attempt to blur the lines between fantasy and reality falls flat. Mary hallucinates her husband being seduced by Grace and starts questioning her own sanity. The plot thickens when Elaine tries to warn Mary about Grace, but ends up dead, scissors gruesomely planted in her neck.

The film’s depiction of Grace and Mary’s relationship raised controversy, and to clarify: my criticism of this dynamic stems from Grace’s subordinate position as Mary’s “charge,” not her sexual orientation. This imbalance of power is at the heart of why this relationship feels problematic within the context of the story.

Twists That Don’t Stick

The final act is a muddled mess of reveals, hinging on Grace’s supposed split personality disorder. The audience is left to decipher whether Mary has truly gone mad or if Grace’s darker side is to blame. The film attempts to redeem the misguided woman by placing her in a mental institution. Mary visits her out of apparent compassion. But the closing shot, a mysterious figure wearing the killer’s outfit leaving the hospital, suggests more unfinished business. Is Mary dead? Trapped in her delusions? We’ll never know, and frankly, I’m okay with that.

Mother of Movies Rates Deadly Illusions

While the film had the potential as a suspenseful thriller, its execution left much to be desired. Awkwardly placed scenes, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of coherence make this a disappointing watch.

Rating: 1 Who’s a bad boy? out of 5.

Cast & Crew

Deadly Illusions features Kristin Davis (Sex and the City), Dermot Mulroney (Copycat), and Greer Grammer. It was written and directed by Anna Elizabeth James and is also known as Grace.

For a much kinder review of Deadly Illusions, check out HorrorBuzz.com. They liked it.

Mother of Movies embraces all thoughtful discourse and encourages readers to consider how power dynamics, narrative placement, and character agency affect storytelling.

Mother of Movies rated Deadly Illusions

1 who’s a bad boy? out of 5